Report on Wage Disparity Among Latina Workers in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties

Introduction

A recent UCLA-led study, co-authored by Veronica Terriquez, Professor of Urban Planning and Director of UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center, highlights significant wage disparities faced by Latina workers in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. This report emphasizes the implications of these disparities in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Key Findings

1. Latinas constitute nearly 50% of the female workforce in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
2. Despite their substantial representation, Latinas earn only 47 to 50 cents for every dollar earned by non-Hispanic white men.
3. The wage gap is attributed to systemic barriers including:
   • Limited access to quality education
   • Occupational segregation

Impact on Communities and SDGs

The wage disparity has broad consequences that extend beyond individual workers, affecting families and communities in multiple ways:

• Household Economic Stability: Many Latinas are primary earners, and underpayment limits their ability to support their families.
• Access to Essential Services: Reduced earnings impact families’ access to housing, education, and healthcare, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
• Long-term Financial Security: Challenges in planning for retirement affect economic sustainability and well-being.

These factors contribute to perpetuating inequalities and hinder progress towards achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 1 (No Poverty).

Advocacy and Research Initiatives

Veronica Terriquez, a Chicana sociologist and social justice advocate, has co-founded the Latina Futures 2050 Lab. This initiative under UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center is dedicated to advancing research and policy development aimed at promoting equity and opportunity for Latina communities, directly supporting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Additional Resources

For further information and related workforce studies, refer to the Santa Cruz County reports.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article highlights wage disparities faced by Latina workers, which directly relates to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The focus on wage gaps, occupational segregation, and economic challenges faced by Latina workers connects to promoting sustained, inclusive economic growth and decent work for all.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The systemic barriers and wage disparities indicate issues of inequality within and among communities, aligning with the goal to reduce inequalities.
4. SDG 4: Quality Education – Limited access to quality education is mentioned as a systemic barrier, linking the article to the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.
5. SDG 1: No Poverty – The financial challenges and their impact on families’ ability to access housing, education, and health care relate to the goal of ending poverty in all its forms.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 5 – Gender Equality
   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
   • Target 5.A: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, including access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance, and natural resources.
2. SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.
3. SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
4. SDG 4 – Quality Education
   • Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
5. SDG 1 – No Poverty
   • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Wage Gap Measurement – The article explicitly mentions that Latinas earn only 47–50 cents for every dollar earned by non-Hispanic white men, implying the use of the indicator measuring the gender wage gap or income disparity by ethnicity and gender.
2. Labor Force Participation Rates – The fact that Latinas make up nearly half of the female workforce in the regions implies monitoring labor force participation rates by gender and ethnicity.
3. Access to Quality Education – The mention of limited access to quality education suggests indicators related to enrollment rates, completion rates, or attainment levels in education among Latina populations.
4. Occupational Segregation – The reference to occupational segregation implies indicators measuring the distribution of women, particularly Latinas, across different sectors and job types.
5. Economic Impact on Families – The article discusses the broader impact on families’ ability to access housing, education, and health care, suggesting indicators related to poverty rates, access to social services, and economic security.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: luskin.ucla.edu